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PODCAST

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture (DragonKingKarl)

When It Was Cool

For all shows including our archived content visit our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/wiwcool Pro wrestling history. WWE, WCW, NWA, AEW, NXT, NJPW, TNA, Impact, ROH, AWA, ECW, and the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Karl Stern (DragonKingKarl) is a pro wrestling historian who has produced the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show for over 15 years at Wrestling Observer. This is the free version of some of the pro wrestling podcasts we produce at When It Was Cool. There is much more

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All Episodes

49:52

Dusty Rhodes - From the Pages of the Wrestling...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/11/07

On our rotation of classic pro wrestling themes we are back around to the one we call From the Pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter where we look back at some of Dave Meltzer's biographies and history pieces in historic Observers. Today we begin a three parter on the massive Dusty Rhodes obituary. It is basically a book on the life and times of one of the most influential and popular pro wrestlers of all time: Dusty Rhodes.

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57:07

Pioneer Era Wrestling Outside New York City - 1000 Hours

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/31

This show was sponsored by Andrew and he asked for research on pioneer era pro wrestling in the state of New York outside of New York City. So, host Karl Stern digs into newspapers in Buffalo, Rochester, and surrounding areas to find out that the pro wrestling scene outside of New York City in the late 1800s was well and good including a number of names we have became familiar with including Col. McLaughlin, H.M. Dufur, Theobaud Bauer, and more. This is hour 23. YOU CONTROL THIS SERIES! It will only

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01:22:27

Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Ballot Discussion...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/25

Welcome to Karl Stern's annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot discussion for 2023. The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot show is usually my most popular show of the year. This year it's a two-part show discussing, among others: Roman Reigns, Young Bucks, Rocca and Perez, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Daddy, Roy Welch, Bob Armstrong, Mongolian Stomper, the Von Erichs, British Bulldogs, Hart Foundation, and many more. Let's talk the 2023 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame. Part 2.

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01:03:51

Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Ballot Discussion...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/24

Welcome to Karl Stern's annual Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot discussion for 2023. The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot show is usually my most popular show of the year. This year it's a two-part show- today and tomorrow- discussing, among others: Roman Reigns, Young Bucks, Rocca and Perez, Sgt. Slaughter, Big Daddy, Roy Welch, Bob Armstrong, Mongolian Stomper, the Von Erichs, British Bulldogs, Hart Foundation, and many more. Let's talk the 2023 Wrestling Observer Hall of

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01:00:40

Pioneer Era Wrestling in Mexico - 1000 Hours

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/22

The origins of pro wrestling in Mexico is probably not what you think. You may think it was Salvador Lutteroth and EMLL/CMLL or some long forgotten masked star. What if I told you it was actually a Japanese Judoka and a barnstorming rag-tag group of American wrestlers? What if you found out that pioneer era wrestling in Mexico was in, not only with wrestling in America, but also Cuba and the infancy of Ju-Jitsu in Brazil as well? Because it's true. The origin of wrestling in Mexico is not what you

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52:14

Main Event Wrestling Magazine Review - November 1984

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/17

As I wrap up the work on my upcoming DragonKingKarl Stern's 1984-1985 Pro Wrestling Omnibus book I wanted to review a magazine from that time frame. So, I struck outside the usual Apter mags and decided to review a George Napolitano offering: Main Event Wrestling from November 1984 featuring Hulk Hogan, Kerry Von Erich, Jimmy Snuka, and a ton of Puerto Rican news for some reason. Also a hilarious Kerry Von Erich verses Ric Flair photo and some of, hands down, the wackiest ads we have seen so far

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56:20

The Mystery of Barney Smith. Maybe Dead. Maybe Not.

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/15

Well, I mean he is dead for sure now. He lived 150 years ago but the question is did Col. James H. McLaughlin kill him? In the early 2000s when I first really dug into the pioneers of pro wrestling, I was led to believe that in a famous wrestling tournament in Detroit, MI in 1870, Col. McLaughlin wrestled Barney Smith in the finals and Smith died the day after. There were many specific details to the incident told to me by a historian. Problem is, over 20 years later and with access to all the major

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01:02:12

Champion Wrestler Uziel Prickett Had a VERY Bad Idea...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/11

1000 Hours is a podcast all about the pioneers of pro wrestling and on this episode I have found a new one. I had never previously heard of Uziel Prickett, but he was a pioneer era champion wrestler and he had a hard time getting along with others. You see, pro wrestling was in all honesty really a scam meant to fleece gamblers of their money, we all know this by now. Well, Uziel Prickett kept getting found out and nearly beat up for it. Then he had a terrible idea. He would pull this same con down

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44:50

January 1984 - Long Form History of Wrestling Series

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/10

Today pro wrestling historian Karl Stern begins looking at the year 1984 in pro wrestling and January 1984 was a huge and historically important month as Hulk Hogan wins the WWF heavyweight title from the Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The AWA is beginning to get it's talent raided by WWF with, not only Hulk Hogan, but Gene Okerlund, David Schultz, and others coming over. On top of that, Hulk Hogan is still an important part of New Japan Pro Wrestling as well. What do the NWA

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01:00:26

The American Heavyweight title - 1000 Hours

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/08

1000 Hours is the podcast all about the pioneers of pro wrestling. On this episode, host Karl Stern takes a look back at one of the earliest and most important championships of the pioneer era: The American Heavyweight championship. It was a time when it seemed like every wrestler billed themselves as "Champion of America" in some form or other. But what can we deduce about the actual championship of America that led eventually to Tom Jenkins, Frank Gotch, and becoming tied into the George

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01:01:20

Clarence "The Kansas Demon" Whistler is Apparently...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/04

One of the most interesting personalities in the 1800 pioneer era of pro wrestling was the arch-rival (and sometimes friend) of William Muldoon. I introduce you to Clarence Whistler. In the early 1880s he gave William Muldoon the fights of his life. He was rough, dirty, and vicious. Yet, somehow, he would occasionally work with Muldoon as a partner as pro wrestling in America took form in the post-Civil War period. Clarence Whistler would not see his 30th birthday and would be buried on the other

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46:33

History of Wrestling at Madison Square Garden Podcast...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/10/03

We continue our chronological exploration of the history of pro wrestling at MSG in New York City. We continue into the 1920s and have been discussing the saga of Tex Rickard and how he had taken over the pro wrestling scene. However, he runs into legal trouble and it threatens not only pro wrestling but boxing as well. Also, the Zbyszko brothers continue their run as top stars and the NYSAC continues to be a problem.

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01:08:54

Theobaud Bauer is Dead and There Was Much Rejoicing -...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/09/27

Professor Theobaud Bauer was one of the most successful pro wrestlers of the pioneer era. He traveled from coast to coast and was easily one of the most famous professional wrestlers of the 1800s. He was also, apparently, quite the despised human being, for when he died the Los Angeles newspapers virtually celebrated his death. Theobaud Bauer may be the most interesting wrestling pioneer we have looked at yet, perhaps for all the wrong reasons. This is hour 17. Join us as we take a look at the

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01:00:24

Pioneer Era Wrestling in Africa - 1000 Hours

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/09/24

This episode was requested and sponsored by Eric Darsie of the Wrestling With the Dawg Podcast and he asked if there is any evidence for pioneer era (pre-1900) pro wrestling in Africa. Africa is hard enough to get modern era pro wrestling news out of so I didn't expect to find much, however, there does appear to have been pro wrestling in Africa during the era. I expected to find it in either Egypt or South Africa but what I found was an interesting history and style of wrestling throughout the

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55:30

That Time H.M. Dufur Got Shot in the Face - 1000 Hours

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/09/20

Henry Moses Dufur was one of the greatest, most important, and most well-known pro wrestlers of the pioneer era. He started wrestling before he was a teenager and by the time he was in his thirties was pretty well established as one of the best ever. Then one day he got shot in the face. Yes, directly in the face while riding a train, minding his own business. This is that story, it is a dozy, and I had never heard it before finding it in an old newspaper. That's what we are here for. Welcome to

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45:12

From the Pages of Wrestling Observer - Verne Gagne

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/09/19

This week from When It Was Cool Wrestling host Karl Stern visits the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to look at the life and career of multiple time world champion and owner of the AWA Verne Gagne. Verne Gagne was a contemporary of Lou Thesz and a major rival. Verne Gagne was one of the biggest stars on television during T.V's earliest days. However, his reluctance to change with the times resulted in the catastrophic downfall one of the three largest pro wrestling companies of the

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53:03

G.W. Flagg Writes a Letter - 1000 Hours

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/09/13

More pre-1900 pro wrestling stories on this edition of 1000 Hours including some more information about pioneer era wrestling in Alabama that I’ve found. The primary focus of this episode comes from the mouth of one of the pioneers of wrestling themselves. Late in life (in his 70’s), champion pioneer wrestler G.W. Flagg wrote a detailed letter to a newspaper about his wrestling match with another champion, John McMahon. It goes into detail about Civil War camp pro wrestling and gives us a first hand

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01:03:43

WWF Magazine September 1992 Review

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/09/12

Let's have some fun this week looking back at a retro pro wrestling magazine. These shows have proven very popular and this time we are looking at the WWF Magazine from September 1992 (31 years ago!) featuring Papa Shango on the cover. Papa Shango is making life miserable for the Ultimate Warrior and WWF magazine tells us all about it. Plus, more neon than you can shake a stick at with Randy Savage. A new shady character has shown up in the WWF and we find out what is known about Razor Ramon. Plus,

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53:04

Pioneer Era Minnesota (Muldoon and Lewis) - 1000 Hours

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/09/10

1000 Hours Podcast is all about the pioneer era of pro wrestling. Pre-1900 pro wrestling. In this episode, sponsor Eric D. wanted to know about the pioneer era of wrestling in the state of Minnesota. While Minnesota would become a hotbed of wrestling from the 1940s through the 1980s with Verne Gagne's AWA, Minnesota also had a rich history in the pioneer era as well including major events for two of the biggest stars of the time: "The Solid Man" William Muldoon and the original "Strangler" Evan

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57:21

Pioneer Era Wrestling in Alabama: Who is MJ Dwyer? -...

When It Was Cool Wrestling and Retro Pop Culture... ·

2023/09/06

This was a request from this episodes sponsor, Jason. He asked what the pioneer era of wrestling (pre-1900) was like here in Alabama. Great question... because I have no idea. Pro Wrestling really didn't explode here until the 1940s but I knew there was some pro wrestling to here prior. So, let's dig into research. What I discovered was an established scene in the Birmingham area and the man whom it revolved around was M.J. Dwyer. Who is that? I discovered a lot about M.J. Dwyer and discuss it on

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